News Release

Taiwanese Girl, 13, to be Awarded Lions International Peace Poster Contest Grand Prize at the United Nations

OAK BROOK, IL USA, March 3, 2010 – Yu-Min Chen, the 13-year-old girl from Taiwan, who created this year's grand prize winning poster in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest, will be recognized for her accomplishment at Lions Day with the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, March 26, 2010. Chen will also be presented with an award and US$2,500. Her parents and the president of the Taichung Kuang Hua Lions Club, which sponsored the contest in her area, will accompany her to the award ceremony.

Chen said she wanted her poster to "show that children hope to live in a peaceful world."

About 350,000 children ages 11, 12 and 13 in 70 countries around the world participated in this contest. Her poster was chosen for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of this year's contest theme, "The Power of Peace."

"Our club is excited and proud to reach out to our community and the world to spread peace and hope," said Ching Ming Tseng, president of the Taichung Kuang Hua Lions Club. "Yu-Min's poster symbolizes a child's hope for a peaceful existence and exemplifies the talent and intelligence of young people around the world."

Lions Clubs International President Eberhard J. Wirfs said, "The youth of today will grow to lead us into a better future. They will remember that the Lions helped them to consider the significance of international cooperation and peace."

Lions created the Peace Poster Contest to foster a spirit of peace and international understanding in young people worldwide. In addition to the grand prize winner, 23 merit award winners have been announced. This year's merit winners are from the Bahamas, China, China Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Switzerland and the United States (from Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and New Jersey). The merit winners will each receive US$500 and a certificate of achievement.

After being exhibited at the 93rd annual Lions Clubs International Convention in Sydney, Australia this June, the 24 winning Peace Posters will be shown throughout the year at children's museums and various locations throughout the United States. The posters will also be featured on the Lions Clubs International Web site, www.lionsclubs.org, where you can learn more about the contest and send Peace Poster e-cards.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.35 million members in about 45,000 clubs in 206 countries and geographic areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.